Calling All Chubby Stove Owners!!

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 8:44 pm

Yep,you can burn wood,but I'm totally Pro for Anthracite-No Chimney Fires...I've been on too many of those tall roof burners in the Winter Time. That's why a lot of Chimneys don't get cleaned as they should by the Woodburnin' Critters. Remember-In The vast World Of Coal Burning,There's No Dominant/Submissive--There's Only Warm Buttoxias !!

:bag:

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 8:47 pm

ONEDOLLAR wrote:Used Chubby prices have more than DOUBLED in the past year around here. I monitor used Chubby prices for Larry. Most blower units I see now on CL are now north of $450. Of course with due diligence you might find one on the cheap for say $250. You would still have to send it Larry for say $300, pay Larry to rehab said stove for around $350 then another $250 to have it sent back to you.

$250 for the stove +$300 freight to MA, $350-$399 for rehab depending on style of stove and $250 freight sent to you in Ohio

This totals $1150, perhaps more and that is assuming you can get the stove for $250. As I said used Chubby prices have more than doubled in the past year since Larry has started making new stoves. Many CL ads for used Chubby's are now making reference to the fact that new Chubby's are being made and list the prices for a new one.

The freight charge from Ohio to MA is a guess as well but the $250 freight to Larry to you is solid. So PRICE wise you aren't that far off from just getting the stove direct from Larry for $1399+ freight which I know he has one at that price. Are you sure you need a blower unit?

I would suggest installing a baro like Larry mentioned. Unless your space is very tight it shouldn't be an issue. A baro can be laid sideways on the back vent pipe and the baro face can be turned like a clock. You can always remove it later. I have seen many baro's installed with stoves vented in the fireplace. Reducing the flue is not a good idea. Tempting yes but I wouldn't do it. How about using a piece of flexable liner to squeeze into place past the damper?

We are heating about 1100 sq feet with a new Chubby. The wife always has the upstairs balcony door open. ALWAYS. She likes fresh air and of course the cold air rushes into the house yet I have no problem keeping the house in the 70's with an easy 14 hour burn at 450f+ here in New England.

EWF I am testing a proto 2014 Chubby now. Should be for sale next fall. The current 2013 models are awesome as well.

I'm guessing that finding a used blower model for $250 is gonna be next to impossible. I think its gonna come down to a timing issue. If I wanted to sit around forever and wait 2, 3 4 or more heating seasons til something plopped in my lap then I'm sure I'd eventually find a steal out there but in my opinion I'd rather bite the bullet and just get one directly from Larry than do that. And Ideally for the sake of the old bank account I'd like to find a great one in great condition right down the road, but I just don't think its likely, lol. Please, don't get me wrong, I don't think Larry's prices are out of line. He has a very unique, pretty, functional stove in a tight package which serves a great purpose for folks like me who have limited hearth space, but the ex-banker in me won't let me jump in head first without making sure its the right move. Thus, all my ping-pongging, all over the place on which stove to buy in the first place! We are a single income family raising 2 little ones so this is a huge investment for us. I do want it to be economical but I also want it to fit our needs, make us more comfortable, and be safe. I don't KNOW that we would need a blower model but its one of those things that I would rather have and not need than need and not have if you know what I mean. Once we order one without, its too late and next winter when its in the single digits and I'm practically sitting on the stove trying to get warm I'd much rather be thinking "Gee, I'm glad we got this blower" than "Man, I wish we would have just bought a daggone blower" Lol

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 8:50 pm

Hambden Bob wrote:Yep,you can burn wood,but I'm totally Pro for Anthracite-No Chimney Fires...I've been on too many of those tall roof burners in the Winter Time. That's why a lot of Chimneys don't get cleaned as they should by the Woodburnin' Critters. Remember-In The vast World Of Coal Burning,There's No Dominant/Submissive--There's Only Warm Buttoxias !! :bag:

Just fyi, your comments always make me smile

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 8:58 pm

Oh, talk about another can of worms......Larry strongly recommended a chimney liner, allll the way up to the top! He said it would greatly increase the draw and reduce the chance of backdraft. The wood burning question made me think of that because I would never burn wood in the chubby, even if I could, without a chimney liner with the creosote issue. He said he has seen liners last upward of 25-30 years with no trouble and I spoke with the guy where I had mentioned buying the liner from before and he still says he has no problem warrantying the liner even for use with coal, so idk! I guess it will be a good experiment!

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 9:00 pm

That's because I'm a Pathetic Sot,as the Brits would say. By the way,my Wife sends her condolences to you. She feels bad that my Drivel that I type cheers you up!

In all seriousness,Chubby Stoves have a Long And Storied Career. Larry Trainer's had the same and the Reputation to go with his Stoves. I don't think you can go wrong!

MrsSouthy · Post by **MrsSouthy** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 9:06 pm

Hambden Bob wrote:That's because I'm a Pathetic Sot,as the Brits would say. By the way,my Wife sends her condolences to you. She feels bad that my Drivel that I type cheers you up! In all seriousness,Chubby Stoves have a Long And Storied Career. Larry Trainer's had the same and the Reputation to go with his Stoves. I don't think you can go wrong!

And....I think you should write a book of some kind. I don't care what the subject matter is, I know it would make me laugh so I promise if you do, I'll be your first book sale! Lol! And I bet your wife lives a highly entertained life, lol

Maybe we need to start a wives forum somewhere! We could share recipes and gossip about you boys! Run it by her and see what she thinks

Ndcoal · Post by **Ndcoal** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 9:11 pm

If you can find a chubby without fan for less, you can always add one of these babies in 2 seconds...military grade, generates power from your stove (no house electricity needed), and I'll bet sucking hot air from ceiling and blowing towards cold floor is more efficient than a back mounted fan.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/new-militar ... x?a=497342

Cick the video tab for the fan at Sportsman's guide...seems to blow very well.

Post by **dcrane** » Mon. Jan. 20, 2014 9:25 pm

Yes, Larry is absolutely an advocate for the Baro but it is NOT the Chubby stove or the Chubby design that dictates his advocacy. Many other manual coal stoves have similar concept and design and have company owners who equally advocate "NO BARO" (Harman is the first that would come to most minds....but theres many). The answer is neither are wholly correct... Its the install and circumstance that dictates the need or effectiveness of using a Baro.

jjs777_fzr · Post by **jjs777_fzr** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 2:38 am

Here's a Chubby for $140.

**Broken Link(S) Removed**

Note there are different variations of Chubby stoves.

I can honestly say I got lucky when I got mine as I didn't know of the different versions out there.
It has the fire-view door and the top had the ship embossed all around the circumference. It also had the shaker control that was accessible while the front ash door was closed (some you had to open the door while shaking - something you wouldn't want to experience!!!).

As for shipping - you'd have to find someone willing to ship it.
I've shipped and received motor engines more than a few times from coast to coast.
I've used ForwardAir.com but there are many options out there for freight forwarders.
Generally was about $250 for a pallet (the weight was not as critical as the size of the pallet).

Here's a snippet of ones available in the Boston area...

jjs777_fzr · Post by **jjs777_fzr** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 2:50 am

As for the blower no blower...don't sweat it. Just get a stand alone fan. No big deal.
I am heating a basement (25x35) with poured concrete walls 20 miles north of Boston.
If I can maintain 68F during 0F ambient tempts....then you will do just fine assuming you don't have drafts.
When outside temps are around 30F I have little issue maintaining 70-71F.
I strive to keep the stove under 425F (as measured on the side).
If you have a drafty house then it behooves you to fix that first before you do anything else.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 2:56 am

Hubby can just oval the 6" pipe to get it to fit through the fireplace damper.

lowfog01 · Post by **lowfog01** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 2:58 am

MrsSouthy wrote:... Oh, and one more question...(I am also going to ask Larry, but would also like your input)...would it hurt the draft, stove performance, or anything else for that matter if we went from the 6" flue down to 5" pipe to go up the chimney? We could do 5" without dismantling the damper frame or bricks or anything other than the damper itself and I would love to go that route if it would work as well. Ok...GO!

I recently put a Mark I in my fireplace. It has a 6 inch exit pipe which must clear a 4 inch damper gap in a masonry chimney . It was suggested here that we "field modify" the black pipe by squishing it to fit through the gap. That's what we did and I can't see any negative effects to the draft. I can't tell you what the actual draft is because I don't have the manometer installed yet but I barely have to open the air control valve to get the stove's temperature to 500*.

We put the black pipe together on the floor, squished them and then slid them up through the chimney piece by piece until the pipe extended 8 feet up the chimney. We connected each segment of pipe with 3 screws. The pipe is wedged in there very tightly. As I said I don't see any ill effects to the draft by changing the shape of the pipe.

I don't have a lot of black pipe on which I could install a barro but I definitely could benefit from one. It's my opinion that you probably would probably benefit from one, too. In my case it would smooth out the draft and give me a more manageable burn. Without the barro I find I have to watch the stove more closely because the draft's pull is jumping around. Times like last night when a low pressure zone was moving in I was adjusting the Air Intake valve pretty much hourly. The draft was pulling that much stronger. That's a waste of coal and heat.

This summer I'm going to add a barro after the T on the black pipe. I didn't initially because 1) the length of black pipe I have and 2) I didn't think I could read it or adjust it because of it's location. I've since learned I can actually get back behind the stove if I let the fire cool off to 100* so those issues are gone. Adding the barro will provide a more even burn and I won't have to keep an eye on it.

Good luck, you are going to love the heat. Lisa

jjs777_fzr · Post by **jjs777_fzr** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 3:27 am

lowfog did a nice job

here's an example of what's available for flex pipe -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-G-Duravent-6DLR-36ORF-D ... 5af0f064bb

You do not HAVE to throw a liner in all the way from appliance to chimney top.
If your chimney is in okay shape - then most of the battle can be won by just getting past the chimney damper.

A short section of black pipe 'ovalized' or flex pipe can make that happen.
You'd want to seal around it with some kind of flame resistant/retardent material.

Post by **dcrane** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 4:38 am

just to add a lil' top secret info JJS might not have seen on our fine forum that could be an option to help shipping costs Lowest Cost Truck Freight Shipping in USA!

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Tue. Jan. 21, 2014 6:32 am

And so your info bank grows,Mrs. Southy ! I'm glad you've had so many drop in and put it into print. Keep your Husband in the loop so he's getting the same info to make a decision as you are....Heck,put him in front of the screen while you go tear your hair out with the kids for a while!

...Wives Forum?? I'll tell her,but that Rascal Freetown Fred will probably stop in there and trade recipes,,,,Who knows?

Calling All Chubby Stove Owners!!

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